Edward Cooper Saltzstein | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Edward Cooper Saltzstein

Edward Cooper Saltzstein, an accomplished surgeon and leader in medicine, died March 9, 2016. He was 83.

He was the husband of Phyllis Saltzstein, father of Johnny (Joe), Dan (Dawn), Tom (Kim), Andrea (Ira), Rebecca, Paul (Jill) and “Pop” to his grandchildren Ted, Mitchell, Katlyn, Daniel, David, Alisa, Max, Samantha and Tessa. He was predeceased by his parents, Helen Cooper Saltzstein and Sidney Saltzstein, and by his brother, John Cooper Saltzstein, and sister, Marilyn Saltzstein Yellon. He grew up in Milwaukee and loved spending his boyhood summers at Camp Nebagamon in northern Wisconsin as a camper, counselor and even camp doctor later in life.

Saltzstein, born Sept 22, 1932, went on to become a surgeon. He attended Yale University and received his medical degree from Northwestern University. He served his internship and residency in surgery at Cook County Hospital in Chicago and a fellowship at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston. While working in Milwaukee early in his career, he performed one of the first kidney transplants in the United States. From 1977 to 2002, Saltzstein was the regional chair of surgery at Texas Tech University Hospital Sciences Center in El Paso, and from its inception in 1994 until his retirement in January 2016, he served as the medical director for the Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso Breast Care Center.

A memorial service was held on March 14 at TTUHSC in El Paso. Donations in the memory of Edward Cooper Saltzstein can be made to Camp Negagamon Scholarship Fund, P.O Box 331, East Troy, WI 53120; Sadie and Annabelle Garbar Breast Care Center, 4801 Alberta Ave, El Paso, TX 79905; or the charity of your choice.